The Arizona Senate has approved a bill temporarily keeping the identities of lottery winners secret. State Sen. John Kavanagh, the sponsor of the measure, said allowing winners a 90-day buffer from public exposure can protect them and their new-found fortunes.
“This keeps them confidential for 90 days, you might say to get them time to their affairs in order, secure their property, maybe set up a foundation so when people hit them for donations they can say ‘see my foundation,’” Kavanagh said.
But Democratic Rep. Martin Quesada, the only ‘no’ vote, said the bill removes the transparency needed to disperse state funds. And, he adds, there’s no record of a new millionaire being victimized.
The bill now goes to the state House.